Universal clamping-tool



F. H. SOVEREIGN. UNIVERSAL CLAMPING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. I9I9. 1,329,728.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

IIIIIIII I I I III III III;

, F. H. SOVEREIGN.

UNIVERSAL CLAM PING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1919.

1,329,728. Patented Feb. 3,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- HTTK F.,H.SOVERE1GN..

UNIVERSAL CLAMPiNG TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. L919.

1,329,728 Patented Feb. 20.

3 $HEETS$HE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. SOVEREIGN, OF VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA.

UNIVERSAL CLAT/IPING-TOOL.

Application filed May 5, 1919.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK H. SOVEREIGN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Vallejo, in. the county of'Solano and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Universal Clamping-Tools, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tools adapted for rigidly holding stock of a round or other shape during the performance of machine operations upon the stock, and my invention has especial reference to a clai'nping tool adapted to be attached to the face-plates of lathes, or to the beds or tables of shapers, planers, milling machines and drill presses, in fact, to the work-holding surfaces of any machine tools for the performance of such operations.

The objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a base with a block thereon and a jaw slidable in the base and 1e versible so that the jaw is adapted to hold an object clamped between the block and the jaw at either end of the block.

Second, to provide a clamping tool with means whereby the tool may be secured to the work-holding surface of a machine in such a manner that the bottom surface of the clamping tool either coincides with said work-holding surface or is at a right angle thereto, thus enabling the operator to secure the tool first in one position for the performance of one machine operation upon the object clamped within the tool, and afterward to secure the tool in another position for the performance of another operation, without necessitating readjustment of the object within the clamping tool for the second operation;

Third, to provide a clamping tool with means whereby the tool, in any position wherein it may be secured to the work-holding surface of a machine, is prevented from turning, so that only a minimum. of accessories may be required in order to attach the tool to the machine for the performance of operations upon an object clamped within the tool;

Fourth, to provide grooves in the block for rigidly holding stock of a round or other shape therein; and

Fifth, to provide a clamping tool which is simple in construction and may be secured Specification of Letters LPatent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

Serial No. 296,643. r

to the work-holding surface of a machine in a minimum space of time.

I accomplish thesean'd other objects, which may appear hereinafter, by means of a device disclosed in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the present specification and wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout the specification and the drawings, and in which- Figure 1. is a broken plan view of the work-holding table of a machine tool, and ,a plan view of my devicesecured to the table;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1; and a broken end view of the table to which the device is secured, different-sized stock adapted to beheld in the different-sized V-grooves, andthe splines cut in the stock being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a broken plan view of the table, and a view of my device turned on one side and secured to the table, the stock and the splnes therein being shown in dotted lines; an

.Fig. *1 is an end elevation of my device taken from the right of Fig. 2, and a broken side view of the table to which the device is secured. a

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 in the direction indicated.

My clamping tool comprises a base 1 of a substantially rectangular contour, and upon the topQ. and between the ends 3 and 4 of the base 1 is formed a block 6, the sides 7 and 8 of the block coinciding with the respective sides 9 and 10 of the base, and the ends 11 and 12 of the block being arranged in planes at right angles to the top and the sides of the base. Longitudinally through the base 1, and preferably at one side thereof, is an aperture 14, forming a channel 16 that opens at the top 2 of the base 1 from the end 11 of the block 6 to the end 3 of the base, and another similarly opening channel 17, alined with the channel 16 from the end 12 of the block to the end 1 of the base.

Adapted to slide in either of the channels 16 and 17 is a jaw 18, provided with a shank 19 that fits the aperture 14. The shank 19 is internally threaded in order to receive therein the inner end of a stud 21, and the studhas thereupon a nut 22 and a washer,

which may be either integral with the nut or separate therefrom and is adapted to bear With its shoulder 23 against either of the ends 3 or 4 of the base 1 and with its central part 24 to fit in either of the channels 16 or 17 so as to prevent bending of the stud 21 when the nut is tightened.

Upon the bottom surface 26 of the base 1 and extending at a right angle to the sides 9 and 10 of the base, is formed a rib 27, and upon one side of the base, in this instance the side 9, is formed another rib 28, which is alined with the rib 27 and extends from the side 9 to and upon the corresponding side 7 of the block 6 and is at a right angle to the bottom surface 26. It should be understood, however, that a similar rib 28 may also be formed on the side 8 of the block, or the rib 28 on the side 7 may be dispensed with and a similar rib substituted therefor on the side 8, according to the preference the constructor and according to the purpose for which the clan'iping tool is to be used, he ribs 27 and 28 being adapted to lit in l"- slots 29, formed in the top of a bed ortable 31 of a machine, not shown, or in the faceplate of a lathe, or in any other WC-lli-llfiltl ing surface of a machine .Yllfil'etO it may be advantageous to attach a clamping tool for the performance of machine operations upon an object secured in the clamping tool, so' desired, the rib 27 on the bottom surface 26 of the base 1 may also be dispensed w h, thereby adapting clamping; tool for holding small work during drilling operations and the like, which do not require the securing of the clan'iping tool to the table of a machine tool. I

By means of a nut 32 upon the outer end of a T-bolt 33, fitting in a bore 34 th ough 'theblock 6, the base 1 and the rib 27 and with its head engaging" one of the l -slots 29, the clamp tool may be firinly secured to the bed 31 the position'shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the bore 34 preferably being counterbored, as shown 36, so that the bolt 33 may be of minimum length and thus only a minimum thereof exposed above the top of the block 6 and the bolt may be out or the way oi the machine operations as much as possible. The same or a siinila nut 32 and the some or a similar T-bolt maybe employed for securing the clampi tool to the bed 31. in the position shown 3, the bolt 33 in this instance fitting bore 37 that extends through the block 6 from the side 8 to the side 7 and through the rib 28, and the bore 37 being counterbored, as shown at 38, for the same purpose as the bores While thus secured in the positions shown, to the bed 31, the clamping; tool is prevented from turning by means (it the respective ribs 27 and 28, so that an excessive strain on the nut 32 and the bolt is unnecessary for holding the clamping tool firmly upon the bed, 1

callyar anged in the end 11 of the block 6, While tlie groove 42 is horizontally arranged in the same end, and both of these grooves are shown as adapted to receive stock smaller diameter than the stock adapted to be held in the groove 43, which is shown as being horizontally arranged in the end 12 of the block. Dotted circles 46, 47 and 48 suggest the size and the relative position of the stock held in the respective grooves 41, 42 and 48, and the dotted re cesses 49 and 50 in the circles 47'and 48, respectively, suggest machine operations, such as the cutt' oi splines, performed on the stool; while held in the grooves 42 and 43, the circle 48 especially indicating how a stock is held in the groove 43, While clamped -ween the jaw 14 and the bloclr6, and reed either in a horizontal position, relati to the bed 31, as shown in him 2, or in vertical position, a shown in Fig. 3.

It is seen from the foregoing that my invention comprises a clamping; tool that is ot an exceedingly simple construction and is adapted for a great variety of purposes. The usefulness of the tool is especially increased by the reversibility of the jaw 18, whereby object may be clamped Within the clamping tool at either end of the block 6, it being necessary for changing the jaw the channel 17, in which it is shown in the drawings, to the channel 16 only to remove the nut 22 and its washer from the stud whereafter the shank 19 and the jaw 18 may be inserted in the channel 16 and by means of the nut the can be moved toward the end 11 of the block 6 in order to secure, for instance, the stool: 46 in the vertical oove 41 or the stock 27 in the hori t -groove42.

befn -.escribed, what 1 cl ire by Letters P f ng the aperture, said jaw being adapted to slide in either of the channels; and means engaging the shank and the base for holding an object clamped between the jaw and the block.

In a clamping tool, the combination with a base having a substantially rectangular contour, of a block on the top and between the ends of the base, the sides of the block coinciding with the sides of the base; an aperture longitudinally through the base, the aperture forming alined channels from the ends of the block to the ends of the base; a clamping jaw provided with a shank fitting the aperture, said jaw being adapted to slide in either of the channels; means engaging the shank and the base for holding an object clamped between the jaw and the block; a rib formed on the bottom surface of the base and extending at a right angle to the sides of the base; and a bore through the block, the base and the rib.

3. In a clamping tool, the combination with a base having a substantially rectangular contour, of a block on the top and between the ends, of the base, the sides of the block coinciding with the sides of the base; an aperture longitudinally through the base, the aperture forming alined channels from the ends of the block to the ends of the base; a clamping jaw rovided with a shank fitting the aperture, said jaw being adapted to slide in either of the channels; means engaging the shank and the base for holding an object clamped between the jaw and the block; a rib extending on one side of the base and the corresponding side of the block and at a right angle to the bottom surface of the base; and a bore extending through the block from one side thereof to the other and through the rib.

4:. In. a clamping tool, the combination with a base having a substantially rectangular contour, of a block on the top and between the ends of the base, the sides of the block coinciding with the sides of the base; an aperture longitudinally through the base, the aperture forming alincd channels from the ends of the block to the ends of the base; a clamping jaw provided with a shank fitting the aperture, said aw being adapted to slide in either of the channels; means engaging the shank and the base vior holding an object clamped between the jaw and the block; a rib on the bottom surface oi the base and extending at a right angle to the side of the base; a second rib alined with the first rib and extending on one side of the base and the corresponding side of the block and at a right angle to said bottom surface; a bore through the block, the base and the rib at the bottom of the base; and a second bore extending through the block from one side thereof to the other and through. the rib at the side.

In a clamping tool, the combination with a base having a substantially rectangular contour, of a block on the top and between the ends of the base, the sides'of the block coinciding with the sides of the base; grooves in the endsot the blocks; an aperture longitudinally through the base, he aperture forming alined channels from the ends of the block to the ends oi the base; a clamping jaw provided with a shank fitting the aperture, said jaw being adapted to slide in either of the channels; and means engaging the shank and the base for hold ing an object in one of the grooves clamped between the jaw and the block.

6. In a clamping tool, the combination with a base having a substantially rectangular contour, ota block 011 the top and between the ends of the base, the sides of the block coinciding with the sides of the base; grooves in the ends of the block; an aperture longitudinally through the base, theaperture forming alined channels from the ends of the block to the ends of the base; a clamping jaw provided with a shank fitting the aperture, said jaw being adapted to slide in either of the channels; means engaging the shank and the base for holding an object in one of the grooves clamped between the jaw and the block; a rib formed on the bottom surface of the base and eX- tending at a right angle to the sides of the base; and a bore through the block, the base and the rib.

7. In a clamping tool, the combination with a base having a substantially rectangular contour, 01'? a block on the top and between the ends of the base, the sides of the block coinciding with the sides of the base; grooves in the ends of the block; an aperture longitudinally through the base, the aperture forming alined channels from the ends of the block to the ends of the base; a clamping jaw provided with a shank fitting the aperture, said jaw being adapted to slide in either of the channels; means engaging the shank and the base for holding an object in one of the grooves clamped between the jaw and the block; a rib extending on one side of the base and the corresponding side of the block and at a right angle to the bottom surface of the base; and a bore extending through the block from one side thereof to the 0th and through the rib.

8. In a clamping tool, the combination with a base having a substantially rectangular contour, of a block on the top and between the ends oi the base, the sides of the block coinciding with the sides of the base; grooves in the ends of: the block; an aperture longitudinally through the base, the aperture forming alined channels from the ends of the block to the ends of the base; a clamping jaw provided with a shank fitting the aperture, said jaw being adapted to slide in either of the channels; means engaging the shank and the base for holding an object in one of the grooves clamped between the jaw and the block; a rib formed. on the bottom surface of the base and extending at a right angle to the sides of the base; a second rib alihed with the first rib and extending on one side of the end the corresponding side of the block and. at a right angle to said bottom surface; a bore through the block, the base and the rib at the bottom 16 of the base; and a second bore extending through the block fron1 011e side thereoi to the other and through the rib at the side.

In Witness whereof I hereunto set my signature, this 26th day of April, A. D. 1919. 15 

